Suffolk Reporter

Over 50 individuals, including colleagues, friends, and family, gathered at the Charles B. Wang Center on November 8 to celebrate Fu-Pen Chiang's retirement after a 57-year tenure at Stony Brook University. Renowned for his work in optical metrology and experimental mechanics, Chiang has significantly impacted the Department of Mechanical Engineering within the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

Chiang is recognized as a SUNY Distinguished Professor and a fellow of four professional societies. His career is marked by numerous achievements and the respect he garnered from those he mentored. Colleagues traveled from across the country to honor him.

Interim Mechanical Engineering Department Chair Jon Longtin emphasized Chiang's influence: “This is a person whose career has spanned five decades,” Longtin said. “He has personally molded hundreds of engineers and researchers, academics, and scholars, and has taught thousands of students over that career.”

Longtin shared how Chiang played a pivotal role in his own career: “I was a postdoc in Japan, looking for academic jobs,” he said. “Stony Brook was interested, but finding me overseas wasn’t easy, so Fu-Pen reached out to my parents back in Cincinnati and spoke to my mother on the phone."

Chiang's accomplishments include being named a senior member of the National Academy of Inventors in 2020. He received awards such as the B.J. Lazan Award (1993), M.M. Frocht Award (2009), and Lifetime Achievement Medal (2012).

Former student Austin Giordano introduced Chiang at the event: “Fu-Pen has been an incredible mentor... I owe so much of my development as a researcher and as a person to his guidance,” Giordano said.

Professor Imin Kao recalled learning from Chiang early in his career: “I didn’t have training in optical metrology, but Fu-Pen taught me how to use shadow moiré,” Kao stated.

Chiang's research includes over 400 articles published in various journals. He delivered lectures at more than 60 institutions across 21 countries.

Jon Longtin reflected on their collaborative relationship: “His office was packed with journals... yet it was one of the coziest places on campus," Longtin noted.

Raman Singh shared insights into Chiang’s mentorship style: "He encouraged us to pursue new ideas... offering advice that would have a lasting impact on the department."

In his closing remarks, Chiang expressed gratitude for support throughout his career: “I’m grateful to all of you for coming here... thankful for my beautiful wife and children," he said.

Longtin concluded with reflections on Chiang’s legacy: "Most of us make our contributions incrementally... when you add all those incremental contributions together, you get a profound impact."